Champions League latest news and reaction as Gunners reach Champions League final

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid LIVE
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal to send Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years following a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

With the semi-final clash delicately poised at one goal each from last week’s opening leg in Spain, Saka delivered the killer blow on the stroke of half-time to secure Arsenal’s place in the showpiece in Budapest on May 30.

Saka’s winning strike completed a remarkable 24 hours for Arsenal which have laid the foundations for Mikel Arteta’s side to now complete the greatest season in their 140-year history.

The Premier League title race is back in their hands after Manchester City’s 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday night, with only West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace standing between the Gunners and a first championship in 22 years.

And after impressively navigating their way past Diego Simeone’s side 2-1 on aggregate, a first Champions League crown could also follow with Paris St Germain or Bayern Munich lying in wait.

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid latest news
The youngster started in midfield and played 74 minutes before being replaced by Martin Zubimendi as the Gunners edged past Atletico to book their place in the Champions League final .

It has not been an easy campaign for Lewis-Skelly, who has struggled for minutes under Mikel Arteta .

Tuesday’s start was just his 18th of the season.

But he was back to his best against Atletico.

A natural full-back, he impressed in his new midfield role, and has taken to social media to lift the lid on his post-match celebrations.

Arteta and Saka are now one game away from Arsenal immortality
For about ten adrenaline-fuelled minutes in the midst of the Arsenal madness, Mikel Arteta let loose.

The Spaniard is normally obsessive in his pursuit of control.

He goes through the same routine before every match, from his shower, to his food, to his clothes.

His Arsenal team, built very much from the back, are an embodiment of that.

On Tuesday night, though, all bets were off.

A place in the Champions League final had been secured with a 2-1 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid.

Having jogged over to shake hands with Diego Simeone, Arteta raced between embraces with every player and member of his backroom team.

Both legs were wrapped around David Raya as he launched himself at the goalkeeper.

Arteta called everyone over to the Clock End to take in a post-match rendition of 'The Angel' and then led the charge the length of the pitch to the North Bank.

Leandro Trossard was grabbed and Arteta began dancing, moving with such carefree abandon it was like he had just discovered he had legs.

Read Matt Verri's Arsenal long read here!

Henry reveals Saka injury worry after Champions League semi-final win
Thierry Henry has revealed that Bukayo Saka was playing through injury as he scored the goal which sent Arsenal to the Champions League final on Tuesday night.

“Being a footballer is not so much always about the glamorous time,” he said on CBS Sports.

“He’s been questioned all season.

Can he be the guy?

Is he not the guy?

Is he the star boy?

Is he not the star boy?

Is he better than him or not better than him?

Today he had to play with barely training.

I know he’s suffering with his Achilles tendon.”
Wenger disagrees with Rooney over Arsenal celebrations
Arsene Wenger disagrees with Wayne Rooney over Arsenal celebrating reaching the Champions League final.

The former Manchester United and England captain, who has won the Champions League, was dismissive of the scenes.

He said on Prime Video: "They haven’t won it yet.

"I think the celebrations are a little bit too heavy.

Celebrate when you win… but no, they deserve it."
Former Gunners manager Wenger, who guided the club to their first Champions League final in 2006, insisted the celebrations were "absolutely normal".

He said on beIN Sports: "In the end it’s a well-deserved win for Arsenal, there’s no doubt they were the better team over the two legs.

"They celebrate well tonight which is normal but you want to focus already on the final and the next games.

"The celebration is deserved and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the next step is to go to the final and win in."
Who does Saka and Arsenal squad want to face in the final?

Bukayo Saka has given a surprise answer when asked who him and the Arsenal squad want to face in the Champions League final.

Gunners star Saka scored the only goal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday as Atletico were beaten 1-0 in the semi-final second leg.

Facing Arsenal in the Budapest showpiece later in May will be the victors between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Asked on CBS Sports after the game who out of Bayern and PSG he would rather face, Saka replied "Come on, man...

you can't ask me that.

I'd have to give a media-trained answer."
Pushed for a response, Saka somewhat relented, adding: "You know deep down who we'd want to face in the final."
Truly is world-class.

Great pace and strength to stop Alvarez getting away in the first half.

Perfect pass in behind created space for opener.

Fortune one poor header was not punished after Gabriel heroics.

Incredible defending to deny Simeone after he had gone past Raya.

Then launched himself in front of Pubill.

Huge presence.

Might be the best in the world at winning cheap free-kicks to relieve pressure.

Big match, big performance.

No surprise he rose to the occasion.

Goal-saving block early on as Simeone looked certain to score.

Several powerful driving runs.

Corner delivery was superb too.

Click here for our Arsenal player ratings!

Here is the moment Arsenal’s place in the Champions League final was confirmed.

Arsenal 1-0 Atletico Madrid (agg: 2-1)
ARSENAL ARE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!

90+6 min : It’s all kicking off down in the technical area.

90+5 min : Yellow card for Koke and Calafiori, who was replaced ages ago.